NFB Impact Guide for Library Screenings

Whether you’re an experienced organizer, or need some tips for your first screening, the NFB Impact team is here to help!

Things to note:

• Make sure you test your equipment and film at least a day in advance of your screening
• Following your event: we will follow up to ask for your attendance numbers. Even an estimate is great – it helps u to have a broad picture of where NFB films are being seen across Canada
• Accessibility: We can provide open or closed caption and described video versions for many of our films; we also suggest identifying other ways to make your event accessible including sign language interpretation and accessible event spaces – this guide provides a helpful starting point

Promotion:

• The NFB Impact team can provide you with an electronic press kit (for new films only) printable posters, discussion guides as well as social media assets to help promote your screening, where available.
  • You can also find the list of all press kits here: http://mediaspace.nfb.ca/epks/
• Creating an event where people can register for tickets (e.g. Eventbrite, Universe, Ticket Tailor) is a great way to get an estimate of attendance and to have a channel to communicate with attendees pre and post-event (even if your event is free).
• You want to promote your screening in advance to give yourself time to get the word out according to your communication tools. We also suggest posting about your event at least 2-3 times in the preceding weeks to allow for momentum to build. Some way to do this:
  • Putting posters in windows of local businesses, in the libraries or on bulletin boards
  • Creating a Facebook Event and/or post highlighting the event with date, time and location
  • Creating an Instagram post, story or reel
  • Sharing your event via word of mouth at a gathering

For social media, you can tag the National Film Board on the following channels:

• Instagram: @onf_nfb
• Facebook: NFB (@NFB.ca)
• LinkedIn: National Film Board of Canada
• X (formerly known as Twitter): @thenfb

Discussion & Moderation:

• Post-screening discussions and Q&As are a great way to engage your audience and dive deeper into the themes highlighted in the work. Our team can help you connect with the filmmaker, producer and film subjects to participate in these discussions, provided there is enough lead time.
• Many organizers will also invite people who may not be connected to the film, but who have subject matter expertise to participate in a discussion.

Crediting the NFB:

At the start or end of your event – please play the provided NFB Impact trailer and use the following language to credit the NFB at your screening: NFB IMPACT screenings on Vimeo.

• This screening is presented in collaboration with the National Film Board of Canada; which is Canada’s only public producer and distributor of Canadian film and series
• With a collection spanning more than 7,000 films from across the decades on a variety of subjects, you can watch many of these films for free at home on NFB.ca or the NFB app on your Smart TV.
• The NFB also has a team that works with communities and institutions to organize free and by-donation screenings of NFB films.
• Library screenings can happen almost anywhere: in parks, community centers, offices, retirement home, theaters and coffee shops, or anywhere in between. Not sure where to start? Get in touch! libraries@nfb.ca

Questions? Send us an email at libraries@nfb.ca

Want to see other screenings happening? Visit our Events page : https://events.nfb.ca/.